STUDENT STANDOUTS

COVER STORY – Thompson Foundation for Autism

by stephanie wallace SIDHARTH RAJAGOPAL OF PARKWAY WEST HIGH SCHOOL

SIDHARTH RAJAGOPAL UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE of expanding his horizons—whether it’s tackling a new skill or reaching out to help others in the community. The Parkway West student, who will be a sophomore this fall, has been involved in scouting since he was in elementary school. Now, he’s taken on the challenge of achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. As part of his service project, he built a food donation box for the Parkway Food Pantry. The box is accepting donations at Claymont Elementary School.

When did you get involved in scouting? I joined the Cub Scouts when I was in second grade because I thought it sounded interesting, In sixth grade, I crossed over to Boy Scouts.

What is your favorite part of scouting? I enjoy that it allows you to learn new things and experience stuff you wouldn’t otherwise. For example, my troop went rock climbing and rappelling, which I had never done before but really enjoyed. I like having the opportunity to explore different things and figure out what I like and what I don’t.

Why did you decide to pursue the Eagle Scout rank? I saw other people getting involved, and I thought the Eagle Scout project was a great achievement. Eagle Scouts make a pretty big impact on their community, and I like the fundraisers and other opportunities our troop has to help out. It inspired me to go for it. How did you decide to build a food donation box? I wanted to do something that would help Claymont Elementary School, and since COVID was happening, I saw on the news that there were a lot of shortages at local food banks and pantries. My troop’s Eagle Scout coordinator was contacted about having someone build something for food donations, and I wanted to be involved. I got in touch with the school, and everything kind of just went from there.

What are you looking forward to with the new school year? Going back to in-person lessons. With the pandemic, school went pretty well, and the teachers did a great job adjusting their curriculum for the situation. Still, I prefer hands-on activities. It’s more fun than learning virtually.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I like to learn new skills. I also enjoy helping others. If I see someone who needs something, I like to lend a hand. &

AS PART OF ITS SPONSORSHIP, SPORT COURT HAS MADE A DONATION ON BEHALF OF SIDHARTH TO FEEDING AMERICA.

SPONSORED BY: BACKYARD COURTS BUILT TO LAST...CHAMPIONS START HERE!